The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1887-03-09
gessIE BENTON FReMoNT.
Ter tf.lt to the Old Lady WHO once
e,x,.,r me- Htfrsl 4

Her tfsit to the Old Lady Who once
Saved Her Liroy
When Jessie Benton was 3-ycar-eId
child shc was seized with a violent attaclS
OF Group while tlhe Benton family was ON
the way from Washington 10 ST. Louis ON
the National road. SoSiolent wns Il that
the chil1's father turned cI lho hrfoFnv
into the nearest house, which appened
to be Mrs. Cfugar's. The woman saved
the cliild's life and thus established
claim to the attentions OF the Benton,
household whenever she ewas IN Washing
ton. She was woman who had q very
clear mind and was remarkably we'll
read, but was ..singularEy without any
syapSthies. When Mrs. Fremont was
ut Wheeling with her husband II tho
early DAYS of the war she recalled the
woman who had performed such signal
service for her in her childhood. and to
her surprise learned upon inquiry that
Mrs. Crngaf was still living, as clear
minded as ever, though quite 100 years
old. In well built house of dressed
stone, very large and solid, with the
usual detached kitchen and long row OF
negro quarters-all the roads and paths
leading to it lost in the unchecked growth
of many years-thc old lady lived. en-
tirely alone, even the servants being
locked out at fImset.
Mrs. Fremont determined to visit her
and rode out to her house. accompanied
by the general and attended by n guard,
In n large library, lined with books she
found the old lady who had saved her life
as baby, who still knew her perfectly
and all about her and why armed men
attended her on the visit. She had IN her
hand volume OF the ''Spectator,"
her old books were the only kind she
cared for. Her dress, like her books,
was old, but of the best, for she vTns care
fully arrayed in rich black satin, witk a
cap of beautiful old ycllowed Iace, and
the inevitable false hair, dark, was
framed in with rich lace quiIings. Her
age told IN the skin Of her face and
hands, which ssas like crfmped pafcff@
ment. hut the lips werc firm, and the
eyes deep set, in wrinllcd lids, were still
dark and keen. Nor did she forget her
duties as hostess. and said il might please
''the young people" to ogoup stairs -thcre
was hall room there, and they might
dance If they liked.
This ballroom tUR1ps5 ont TO be Hlu-
scum of tho faskfans from 1890 to 1910,
for Mrs, GTnEar, like Queen Elizabeth,
had kept all her fine clothes. The walls
were hung with dresses of silk and satin
and velvet, mantles of queer, rich dam
ask, pelisscs trimmed with fur, and
braided riding habits, In tho closets were
bonnefs of fine LeghorA and ef tfensenS
dous size. cashmere turbans embroidered
in gold, long wells of fine old English lace
and treasures of good lace in shawls and
capes, English Honiton, Mechlin or Br1ls-
sells. Wheh eneef the young officers put
his hand on pincusIlion ff fen TO- P5-6es..
The old lady had seen none of thesc
things for more than quarter of cent
ury, but she talked of the war and It's in
evitable result, hut without feeling. and
apparently witIIotft syrnpatIlics. Well
might. any woman of fashion ask herself
If such life was worth living. for what
Mrs. Cr1lgnr was fashion had made her.
Review of Mrs Fremonts Book